Wednesday, October 15, 2014

Most dentists recommend that toothbrushes be changed out at least every three months, but if you travel, get sick, or have a toilet close to your brush - you probably want to change it out more often. In this busy life it can be easy to forget about the simplest things, like getting a new toothbrush on time. 13 Clean is providing consumers an easier way to remember to change out toothbrushes.

A new toothbrush, called 13 Clean, comes with 13 detachable heads - one starter head and 12 other heads for each month. Each head has its month printed clearly on the back, so when October fades into November users know it's time to change the brush head if they're still brushing with the one that says October.

NEW YORK (October 15, 2014) —A team of surgeons at NewYork-Presbyterian/Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital saved the life of a one-week-old baby with the aid of a 3-D printed model of the child's heart. The 3-D model was used as a guide for surgery on the child, who was born with a complex and deadly form of congenital heart disease (CHD).

Photo credit: NewYork-Presbyterian Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital

Dr. Emile Bacha, director of congenital and pediatric cardiac surgery at NewYork-Presbyterian/Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital, and his team performed surgery when the baby was just one week old and weighed only 7 lbs. With the aid of the 3-D model, the team was able to repair all of the heart's defects in a single procedure. Typically, babies born with this complex form of CHD require a series of three or four life-threatening surgeries. "The baby's heart had holes, which are not uncommon with CHD, but the heart chambers were also in an unusual formation, rather like a maze," said Dr. Bacha, who is also chief of the division of cardiac, thoracic and vascular surgery at NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia University Medical Center and the Calvin F. Barber Professor of Surgery at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons (P&S)."In the past, we had to stop the heart and look inside to decide what to do. With 3-D printing technology, we are able to look at the inside of the heart in advance, giving us a road map for the surgery," he added.Prior to the surgery, a team of doctors led by Dr. Anjali Chelliah, a pediatric cardiologist at NewYork-Presbyterian/Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital and assistant professor at P&S, diagnosed the baby with CHD while he was still in the womb, allowing time to develop the optimal treatment plan. After the baby was born, Dr. Chelliah worked closely with Materialise, a company that specializes in 3-D printing for healthcare, to create a model of the child's heart with data taken from a low-dose CT scan performed just one day after the baby.Only two days after receiving the data, the printer was able to produce an exact replica of the heart, allowing the doctors to understand every detail of the congenital defects.Dr. Bacha and Dr. Chelliah are optimistic that 3-D printing technology will continue to improve outcomes for patients."After the success of this surgery, it's clear that 3-D models can be successfully used to help surgeons in complex procedures," said Dr. Bacha. "This technology is the future, and we are proud that NewYork-Presbyterian/Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital is leading the way."The 3-D printed model of the baby's heart was paid for by Matthew's Hearts of Hope, a non-profit organization that supports CHD patients and their families.

NewYork-Presbyterian/Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital

NewYork-Presbyterian/Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital, located in New York City, offers the best available care in every area of pediatrics — including the most complex neonatal and critical care, and all areas of pediatric subspecialties — in a family-friendly and technologically advanced setting. Building a reputation for more than a century as one of the nation's premier children's hospitals, Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital is affiliated with the Department of Pediatrics at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, and is Manhattan's only hospital dedicated solely to the care of children and one of the largest providers of children's health services in the tri-state area with a long-standing commitment to its community. It is also a major international referral center, meeting the special needs of children from infancy through adolescence worldwide. NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital also comprises NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Medical Center, NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center, NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Westchester Division, NewYork-Presbyterian/The Allen Hospital and NewYork-Presbyterian/Lower Manhattan Hospital. The hospital is also closely affiliated with NewYork-Presbyterian/Lawrence Hospital in Bronxville. NewYork-Presbyterian is the #1 hospital in the New York metropolitan area, according to U.S. News & World Report, and consistently named to the magazine's Honor Roll of best hospitals in the nation. For more information, visit www.nyp.org.Columbia University Medical Center provides international leadership in basic, preclinical, and clinical research; medical and health sciences education; and patient care. The medical center trains future leaders and includes the dedicated work of many physicians, scientists, public health professionals, dentists, and nurses at the College of Physicians and Surgeons, the Mailman School of Public Health, the College of Dental Medicine, the School of Nursing, the biomedical departments of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, and allied research centers and institutions. Columbia University Medical Center is home to the largest medical research enterprise in New York City and State and one of the largest faculty medical practices in the Northeast. For more information, visit cumc.columbia.edu or columbiadoctors.org.

Eat healthy foods and keep hydrated

During the six day Thanksgiving travel period, the number of long-distance trips increases by 54% and during the Christmas/New Year holiday, travel increases by 23%. While thousands of Americans travel across the country to visit family and friends, no one wants to get bogged down with sickness. Jayne McAllister, of Jayne McAllister Travel Wellness, recommends ten tips to stay healthy while traveling this holiday season.

“Traveling is hard on the body, causing an increase in stress and an exposure to a variety of germs. It’s vital to stay healthy and take care of yourself or your trip can be ruined,” says Jayne McAllister, of Jayne McAllister Travel Wellness. “There are natural ways to stay healthy that require little extra effort, especially when you are bouncing from plane to plane.”

Eat Healthy on the Road. Research airport eateries before you fly to find healthiest options. Request a fridge in your hotel room so you can shop for healthy meals and keep fresh fruit and salads to hand for when you don’t have to dine out. For long haul flights, order a vegetarian meal. The extra vegetables are much easier on your body inflight than eating lots of sugar, saturated fats and animal proteins. Plan to eat a salad before you fly to offset the effects of inflight bloating.

Breathe. Breathing exercises calm the “fight or flight” response of the sympathetic nervous system. It’s the simplest tactic to reduce stress, it’s easy to do and it’s free. Inhale for five counts and exhale for five counts. Work up to inhaling for two counts and exhaling for eight.

Keep Your Usual Sleep Pattern. Red eye flights can seem like a good idea but at the end of the day, you’re depriving yourself of a decent night’s sleep, which will throw off your performance for days. Lack of sleep doesn’t just lead to lack of energy, it leads to bad decisions around food, such as reaching for caffeine and sugar for pick-me-ups, or being too tired to think about making the right choices at breakfast time. Take a soak in a tub before you turn in. Apply a little soothing lavender balm. This is very good for people who are anxious naturally, especially when flying. Use natural sources of melatonin, like pineapple, bananas, oranges, oats, sweet corn, rice, tomatoes, and barley.

Wash Frequently. The basics would be washing your hands as frequently as possible, carrying wipes to clean your tray table and ends of the arm rests, keeping the air vent above your seat open (even though it’s “recycled” air, it’s better than totally stale air.)

Keep Exercising. People love to use the fact that they’re traveling as an excuse to not exercise. Obvious remedies: Find a hotel that has a workout room or a pool. Use the stairwell. If you have a gym membership, see if they have a location where you’re traveling to. Get outside and walk as much as you can.

Hydrate. Ideally, consume at least one 8-ounce glass for every hour in flight. Caffeine, whether it is in coffee or soft drinks, will dehydrate you. Avoid the inflight salty nuts and snacks, which mess with cellular water content. Similarly, watch out for salt in drinks like tomato juice and V8.

Avoid Alcohol. Alcohol and flying do not mix well because of alcohol’s dehydrating effects. It’s better to have a drink with your pre-flight meal while you’re able to drink lots of water with your meal. This will lessen the effects of dehydration, help you digest your food and relax you before your flight if you’re a nervous flyer. Just don’t overdo it.

Commit before you travel. Book a personal trainer, or exercise class before you get to your destination. Personal trainers and Pilates studios usually have a 24-hour cancellation policy so it’s a real incentive to keep your appointment.

No Excuses. Some people will use the excuse of not having space in their luggage for their sneakers. While some might wear them for the trip, others wouldn’t be seen dead in sneakers while traveling, plus they’re a pain to have to take off at security. Light, foldable sneakers are now available that squeeze into any size bag. If the hotel doesn’t have a work-out facility or you don’t feel safe walking or running in the neighborhood, there are plenty of downloadable workouts to do in-room.

“It’s important to be educated about what to avoid while traveling to stay healthy, especially during the holiday season when there are more people traveling and more ill people,” says McAllister. “Staying healthy while traveling is essential to enjoy your holiday season with your friends and family.”

McAllister provides corporate wellness assistance to those companies with business travelers who spend 30 percent of their time, or more, on the road. She specializes in such training issues as weight loss for travelers, healthy eating while traveling, ergonomics for the traveler, functional exercise, jet lag recovery and avoidance, sleep quality, and nutritional cleanses. She has also created Dine Out Lose Weight, a 21-day guide for dropping weight without setting foot in the kitchen. For more information on her services, visit the site at: www.jaynemcallister.com.

About Jayne McAllister Travel Wellness

Based in Vero Beach, Fla., Jayne McAllister Travel Wellness is a company that provides corporate wellness training to business who have employees that spend a lot of their time on the road. Jayne is a certified coach, who has a degree from the University of Cambridge, is a Pilates instructor, and is a certified holistic health practitioner. For more information visit the site at:www.jaynemcallister.com.

Tuesday, October 14, 2014

Miami, FL – Wearing decorative contact lenses to enhance your Halloween costume may seem fun, but it can permanently damage vision. Bascom Palmer Eye Institute of the University of Miami School of Medicine warns consumers that using decorative lenses without a prescription or a proper fitting by an eye-care professional carries serious risks to vision, potentially leading to blindness. Often painted in vivid patterns, these lenses are used to change the eye’s appearance – not to improve vision. They are typically sold online and through flea markets, convenience stores, and shops.

Dr. Lana Srur, assistant professor of clinical ophthalmology at Bascom Palmer, advises, “Contact lenses purchased and worn without an eye exam or a doctor’s prescription greatly increase the possibility of serious complications. One size does not fit all — especially non-prescription costume contacts, which often fit improperly. These lenses may cause injuries such as cuts and open sores in the cornea, as well as bacterial infections, which could lead to corneal scarring and vision loss,” she added. Dr. Srur said additional risks include conjunctivitis (pink eye), swelling of the eye (corneal edema), sensitivity to light, allergic reactions to lens coatings and interference with normal activities including driving.

The American Academy of Ophthalmology emphasized that a federal law passed in 2005 classified all contact lenses as medical devices and restricted their distribution to licensed eye care professionals. Illegal sale of contacts can result in civil penalties and fees. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) also advised that consumers should only buy decorative contact lenses from an eye care professional or seller who requires a prescription.

Dr. Lana Srur

About Bascom Palmer Eye Institute

Bascom Palmer Eye Institute of UHealth - the University of Miami Health System, is ranked the #1 eye hospital in the nation, as noted in U.S. News & World Report. As the largest ophthalmic care, vision research and educational facility in the southeastern United States, each year Bascom Palmer treats more than 250,000 patients with nearly every ophthalmic condition and performs more than 12,000 surgeries. Founded in 1962, Bascom Palmer has patient care facilities in Miami, Palm Beach Gardens, Naples, and Plantation, Florida. For additional information, contact Natali Latorre at (305) 326-6190 or bpeicommunications@med.miami.edu. Visit our website at bascompalmer.org

Innovative compression legwear brand RejuvaHealth looks to expand their popular RejuvaSocks line with the launch of their Kickstarter Campaign in October 2014.

For many people, graduated compression legwear is more than just a tool to bring relief--it's an everyday necessity.

Fashionable medical grade compression stockings

RejuvaHealth specializes in stylish compression legwear for both men and women with products ranging from socks, leggings, pantyhose and more.

They pride themselves in being able to successfully pair medical grade graduated compression with fashionable patterns and colorways for products that invigorate while mirroring their wearers' fashion sense.

As a way to bring their fans a wider array of stylish options, RejuvaHealth is excited to announce the start of their Kickstarter campaign focused on raising money for new designs of their RejuvaSocks.

Flexible and durable

With this campaign they hope to raise $20,000 in 30 days, which will go towards four new patterns: chevron, houndstooth, argyle, and herringbone.

"There's something magical about bringing people with similar stories or missions together," said RejuvaHealth founder Kelsey Minarik. "It creates an authenticity. A buzz that makes you want to do more. I experience this daily at RejuvaHealth, within our compression community, and feel it within the Kickstarter community of creators too." The brand is excited to tap into this new frontier and the energy behind Kickstarter as they build on the success of their RejuvaSocks line. RejuvaSocks offer all the benefits of graduated compression while flaunting a cushioned sports sock feel and fun designer patterns. This new mild grade level is well suited for the average person looking to relieve and prevent feelings of fatigue, leg discomfort, and swelling brought on by prolonged periods of sitting or standing.

Featuring 15-20 mmHg, the socks can serve as a great starting fit for first time wearers and an entry level for therapeutic applications.

Made from a durable and flexible fiber blend of nylon and Lycra spandex, RejuvaSocks are moisture-wicking and comfortable for all day wear.

Kelsey Minarik started RejuvaHealth in December of 2010 after being diagnosed with Deep Vein Thrombosis at just 22. She found that there were limited compression legwear options on the market that were both fashionable and functionable. Kelsey decided compression legwear needed a stylish makeover and soon launched her AMAZING RejuvaHealth brand.

For additional information or to make a pledge people can visit the RejuvaHealth Kickstarter Campaign HERE!

'The current Medicaid system is so disastrous that those who support it cannot realistically be seen as caring about the poor'

Peter Ferrara

CHICAGO – Medicaid is a massive federal-state entitlement program desperately in need of reform. Its mission is to provide health care to the poorest of the nation's poor ... and thus the poor have the most to gain from positive reform efforts, says Peter Ferrara, a senior fellow for The Heartland Institute and author of a new Heartland Policy Brief, "Liberating the Poor from the Medicaid Ghetto."

According to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, which administers Medicaid, federal and state government spending for the program will total $6.56 trillion between 2013 and 2022. Medicaid is already the biggest line item in state budgets, and Medicaid spending will continue to grow, especially in the states that extended the reach of their programs under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. (About half the states enacted the Medicaid expansion provided for under Obamacare, while half did not.)

Click here to read a free PDF version of "Liberating the Poor from the Medicaid Ghetto."

As he has done in previous installments of his entitlement reform series of Policy Briefs, Ferrara urges modernizing Medicaid by block-granting the federal government's share of funding to the states. He writes:
The unwillingness of health care providers to accept Medicaid patients because of the program's shamefully low reimbursement rates could be addressed by extending to Medicaid the 1996 reforms of the Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) program. ... Each state would be free to use the funds for its own redesigned health care safety net program for the poor in return for work from the able-bodied.

Ferrara notes Congressman Paul Ryan (R-WI) included Medicaid block grants in his 2012 and 2013 budgets, and generally "[s]upport for such fundamental entitlement reform is now mainstream within the Republican Party." He writes, "The current Medicaid system is so disastrous that those who support it cannot realistically be seen as caring about the poor. Their opposition to reform exposes a radical, impractical, counterproductive ideology to which they are wedded because it maximizes their power."

"Liberating the Poor from the Medicaid Ghetto" is the sixth in a multi-part series Ferrara is writing on entitlement reform for The Heartland Institute.

Earlier installments in The Heartland Institute series on entitlement reform are linked below:

The Heartland Institute is a 30-year-old national nonprofit organization headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. Its mission is to discover, develop, and promote free-market solutions to social and economic problems. For more information, visit our Web site or call 312/377-4000.

EDGEWATER, Maryland – The winter season is often a time when people complain about their skin. For many people it becomes dry, flaky, and dull. Others complain that the dryness not only looks unsightly, but it itches, too. The irony in this is that it’s also the time of year when people are attending more parties and social gatherings, as well has having many holiday pictures taken. The good news is that there are plenty of things that people can do to help their skin have a great glow all season long.

“There’s no reason to have dull dry-looking skin in those holiday photos or when attending the parties,” explains Dr. Sanjiv Saini of MD Dermatology, with locations in Edgewater, Glen Burnie and Lexington Park, Maryland. “If you take the time to do things to keep your skin healthy, then it will maintain a great glow all winter.”

According to the National Institutes of Health, dry skin is common, especially during the winter, because of the low humidity indoors and out. There are numerous ways that people can maintain healthy glowing skin all year, including these 10 ways that will help:

Use a humidifier. By using a humidifier in your bedroom at night you will keep your skin more moistened, and you will breathe better, too. The humidifier will help put the moisture loss from winter back into the air.

Watch the diet. Some foods will add to the glow, while others will take away from it. Load up on fruits and veggies, especially things like mushrooms, which help to repair any damaged skin, and foods with vitamin D and B, which help fight the aging process and keep the skin from looking sallow. Also, reduce the salt intake, as it can leave your skin looking puffy and dull.

Drink green tea. The antioxidants the tea is loaded with help to fight inflammation, so drink up.
Opt for red wine. The polyphenols help to protect the skin from aging as fast. So when you attend the holiday party, opt for the red.

Get a facial. When you have a professional facial done it will help to reduce the flaky skin and create a more radiant look.

Consider microdermabrasion. Taking this professional step is an effective way to remove the dull-looking layer of skin so that the glowing skin can emerge.

Make sleep a priority. Not getting enough sleep can leave your skin looking dull and tired. It’s important to get enough sleep each night to keep your skin glowing. Also, consider adding room-darkening shades to your room to help you avoid any ambient light that may lead to losing sleep.

Find ways to de-stress. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, stress can have an affect on our skin, and even make such conditions as rosacea, acne, and psoriasis worse. It can also trigger fever blisters and dehydrate the skin. They also report that those who are stressed may neglect their skin. Find ways to de-stress, such as doing yoga, meditating, or journaling.

Sooth extra dry skin. If you already have skin that is very dry or flaky, sooth it by using aloe. You can purchase pure aloe in a bottle, or pick up a plant and cut off a piece to squeeze some of the aloe out onto the skin.

Start sweating. When you sweat, your body is releasing toxins, so it’s a good thing. Find an activity to do several times per week that will help you work up a good sweat.

“Nobody wants skin they feel like hiding all winter long, especially when we are so social during the holidays,” added Dr. Saini. “Keep these things in mind and do some of them. You may just be surprised at what a glowing difference it makes to your skin. And you will most likely enjoy those holiday photos a lot more!”

MD Dermatology offers a full line of clinical dermatology procedures including precision neck contouring, laser services, injection services, microdermabrasion, chemical peels, and more. They are a medically directed spa that offers a wide range of services to meet the unique needs of every patient. For additional information, visit their site at: www.mddermatology.com.

About MD Dermatology

With locations in Edgewater, Glen Burnie and Lexington Park, Maryland, MD Dermatology is a full-service medically directed spa. The medical spa is owned by Dr. Sanjiv Saini, a board-certified dermatologist who has also taught at Howard University and is the coordinating dermatologist for the Washington Nationals baseball team. MD Dermatology offers a full array of services, including precision neck contouring, chemical peels, microdermabrasion, and more. For additional information, visit their site at: www.mddermatology.com.

Several times a year the Asset Foundation holds a 3- Day Asset Protection and Wealth Creation Summit. The next seminar will be held November 10-12, 2014in Las Vegas athe the Green Valley Ranch Resort.

Don Pendleton, Asset Foundation president, author, trainer and estate strategist, said to be prepared for three intense days of training, working from early in the morning until late at night.

During the 3-days of intense education participants will learn about protecting their business and personal assets. Experts on law, taxation and estate planning will cover everything they need to know on the proper protection, taxation and planning of assets.

One-on-one consultations with professionals and attorneys will be available. "There is no cost to consult with the professionals," said Pendleton, "but you must pre-register so we can make sure there are sufficient time slots available for you."

Among the instructors at the summit will be "GK" Mangelson, an expert on asset protection and author, Clint Coons, a nationally recognized asset protection attorney and investor, Doug Andrews, a best selling author and financial strategist, Joey Miller, a financial strategist and stock market investor, and Scott Estill, a former IRS senior trial attorney, author and tax attorney.

Participants will learn how to:
* Safely build & protect your wealth
* Run your business for maximum asset protection
* Lower your income taxes in the current year
* Separate high-risk assets from the rest of your estate
* Slash capital gains tax to "0" when you sell stocks, real estate, or a business.
* Reduce or eliminate estate taxes & probate fees completely
* Legally deduct 100's of business expenses
* Learn how to diversify your investments
* Build credit within your business without relying on personal credit
* Use retirement funds to build your business or invest in real estate

Participants are invited to bring a guest - either a spouse, family member, accountant, or lawyer.

Nearly 20% of all couples will experience fertility issues. In many instances, couples who are struggling to conceive are quickly shuttled through a standard medical protocol for treating infertility, which typically includes extensive testing, prescription drug therapy and invasive procedures, all of which come at a tremendous financial, and often physical and emotional, cost to the couple.

However, more and more couples are carefully weighing the costs and benefits associated with conventional fertility treatments, and are exploring natural means of achieving pregnancy before resorting to these more aggressive and expensive measures. Fairhaven Health, a Bellingham, Washington based company, specializes in providing couples with precisely these types of natural alternatives. With a product range that includes fertility enhancing supplements, ovulation prediction devices, and home fertility tests for both women and men, Fairhaven Health has seen popularity of its product line increase as couples seek out more natural methods of promoting good reproductive health.

“Since our company’s inception in 2003, we’ve seen awareness of these types of products increase exponentially,” says Ethan Lynette, Managing Partner at Fairhaven Health. “People are taking a more active role in managing their own health care these days, and we provide them with products to support that.”

Fairhaven Health’s line of fertility supplements is aimed at combating male and female fertility issues on several fronts. For women, improving hormone balance and cycle regularity is often the most important first step to improving fertility. FertilAid for Women, the most well known product in Fairhaven Health’s line of female fertility supplements, offers full prenatal vitamin support, along with a blend of herbs that promotes hormone balance. And, because egg quality declines with age and poor egg quality decreases the odds of conception, Fairhaven Health developed OvaBoost, a product containing a comprehensive blend of antioxidants to help protect egg cells from the damaging effects of toxins. Designed specifically for promoting egg quality and ovarian function. OvaBoost is recommended especially for women over the age of 30, and for those with Polycycstic Ovarian Syndrome.

For men, poor sperm health, characterized by low sperm count and/or low sperm motility, is the main cause of fertility issues. Fairhaven Health’s FertilAid for Men, which has been clinically demonstrated to improve the total number of motile sperm a man produces, contains key mineral, antioxidants, and amino acids to support healthy sperm production. For additional help in improving sperm count and motility, Fairhaven Health offers Count Boost and Motility Boost, which, when taken together with FertilAid for Men, provide a comprehensive, and cost-effective, approach to improving sperm health and overall male reproductive health.

Fairhaven Health’s dietary supplements are designed by a team of medical experts and are manufactured in the United States in GMP-certified facilities. To learn more about all of the available products for increasing your chances of achieving pregnancy naturally, or for samples, interviews, or additional information, please contact Nicki at press@chicblvd.com or visit Natural Fertility, Pregnancy, and Nursing Products - Fairhaven Health

On October 14, 2014, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced the creation of the End of AIDS Task Force to implement his bold plan to end new HIV infections in the Empire State by 2020. Members of the Task Force include longstanding AIDS activists, HIV services providers and persons living with HIV/AIDS – making it a true public-private partnership. Amida Care Board Members and executives celebrate this opportunity and stand ready to offer their support and expertise.

“Amida Care applauds Governor Cuomo for forming the End of AIDS Taskforce. We are grateful to be the first State in the nation to set a deadline to end the spread of HIV. We celebrate his courageous leadership. As partners with the Governor, with boots on the ground throughout the city, Amida Care will continue to connect people living with HIV/AIDS with life-saving care so New Yorkers can get healthy, stay well and live meaningful, productive lives,” said Doug Wirth, President and CEO of Amida Care – a NYC Special Needs health Plan (or SNP) with over 6,000 members living with chronic conditions such as HIV/AIDS, serious mental illness and substance use disorders.

The formation of this Task Force makes New York a national model in the fight against AIDS. Over the last decade, New York State has achieved a 40% decrease in new HIV cases, which is unprecedented nationwide. Government, providers, health plans and consumers will be working together to tackle the next frontier to end AIDS.

Charles King, President and CEO of Housing Works declared “this is a momentous opportunity for New York to show the nation – and the rest of the world – what can be accomplished if we fully commit resources and political will to End the AIDS epidemic.”

HELP/PSI CEO and Amida Care Board Chair Paul Vitale observes “in communities across Brooklyn, Bronx and Queens, where new HIV transmissions are among the highest, HIV service providers and our clients give thanks for the Governor’s vision and his family’s investments in the health of New Yorkers over several generations.”

According to Steven Bussey, President and CEO of Harlem United, “we’re looking forward to fueling the End of AIDS campaign with new ideas to bring down infection rates in the African American community as well as prevent the spread of TB and HIV among people who are homeless, living on the streets and in shelters.”

Raul Russi, CEO of Acacia Network, notes “as the largest minority group in the U.S., Hispanics are disproportionately affected by HIV. We believe that culturally competent care centers must integrate primary care, mental health and addiction services so that the service delivery system addresses the whole person with ease of access and quality care.”

“We will expand HIV care and prevention efforts in underserved populations, including young men of color who have sex with men and the transgender community,” said Dr. Freddy Molano, Vice President of Infectious Diseases and LGBTQ Programs at Community Healthcare Network.

The fruition of the Governor’s End of AIDS plan and the formation of the Task Force represent a long journey of community and government efforts to stop the spread of AIDS as an epidemic. If all people living with HIV become undetectable by 2020, we will have significantly reduced the ability to pass the virus along from one person to another, and provide the key for people with HIV/AIDS to live longer, healthier lives. They can be well, go back to work, pursue education and ultimately live their lives!

“For some people, becoming undetectable will require more than just taking a pill. Vigorous adherence supports such as stable housing, secure food, help with navigating the healthcare system, counseling and peer support will also be necessary, so that they too can achieve health and be part of our success,” said Dr. Jerome Ernst, Amida Care’s Chief Medical Officer.

Benjamin Bashein, Acting Executive Director of ACRIA, a research partner of Amida Care’s said “we are thrilled with Governor Cuomo’s announcement of the End of AIDS Task Force. This is a watershed moment when vision hits the frontlines of reality.”

Ending AIDS is a humane endeavor and a fiscally sensible one. For every new infection prevented, the State will save about $400,000 in life-time medical costs. Amida Care salutes our advocacy partners for encouraging the Task Force’s creation. We also applaud the State and pharmaceutical companies for effectively negotiating cost reductions on HIV medications, making treatment more readily available to people receiving care in the Medicaid program. This will certainly encourage the campaign’s success.

Theradiag has reached a new milestone in the development
of its microRNA theranostics kit for rectal cancer

Croissy-Beaubourg and Montpellier, October 14 2014 - THERADIAG (ISIN: FR0004197747, Ticker: ALTER, PEA-PME eligible), a company specializing in theranostics and in vitro diagnostics, announces the creation of an experts committee for its miCRA project to support it with the development of its microRNA theranostics kit for rectal cancer. The miCRA project has received a start-up phase award by the French government's Worldwide Innovation Challenge.

For the first time, Theradiag has gathered a cross-disciplinary expert committee (clinical oncologists, gastroenterologists, surgeons, anatomical pathologist), all of whom are well-known specialists in treating rectal cancer. This panel will play a consultative role and be involved in continuing the study to identify circulating microRNA biomarkers for the development of a theranostics kit to predict the response to neoadjuvant therapy and metastatic relapse in locally advanced rectal cancer. Alongside clinical observations, this rapid and innovative test will provide a decision-making tool guiding the choice of therapeutic approach at an early stage on a personalized basis before any therapy.

"The creation of this committee of rectal cancer experts will help us to set in motion the biological validation phases for the biomarkers identified recently and patented at the initial stages of the miCRA project. Since it will provide access to retrospective and prospective cohort studies, this committee will help us to accelerate the validation of the microRNAs used to predict patient response to radiochemotherapy and metastatic relapse. This scientific and clinical support will also guide our efforts to confirm the positioning of our future product", comments Odile Prigneau, General Manager of Prestizia.

"This committee will advise the company and provide its medical expertise, which is critical for the validation of the miCRA project", adds Michel Finance, Chief Executive Officer of Theradiag. "In view of its frequency (fifth most common form of cancer in France) and its severity given its high rate of metastatic relapse, rectal cancer represents a major public health issue. Identifying predictive biomarkers would represent a valuable tool for selecting the most appropriate therapeutic strategy for each patient".

About Theradiag's Expert Committee for the miCRA project:
This Scientific Committee will advise the company on the development of a microRNA theranostics kit for rectal cancer. Its members are:

Professor Eric Assenat, MD-PhD, gastroenterologist and digestive oncologist at the Saint Eloi CHU university hospital in Montpellier, is responsible for treating patients with digestive cancer in the oncology department of medicine of the Montpellier CHU university hospital. He also is lead investigator and joint lead investigator in several clinical trials related to digestive cancer.
Dr Valérie Boige, MD-PhD, a cancer treatment center specialist responsible for treating patients with digestive cancer at the medical oncology department of the Institut Gustave Roussy hospital. She is lead investigator and joint lead investigator in several clinical trials related to digestive cancer and in particular cancer of the rectum (joint lead investigator of the Prodige 23 nationwide clinical trial).

Dr Evelyne Crapez, PhD, Pharm.D, is head of the Translational Research Unit at the Montpellier/Val d'Aurelle Regional Cancer Institute. She works on translational research projects aiming to discover biomarkers for personalized oncology treatments with a focus on digestive cancers.

Dr Astrid Lièvre, MD, is a digestive oncologist at the Curie Institute and the René Huguenin hospital and also Lecturer at the University of Versailles Saint-Quentin in the Yvelines department. For several years, she has pursued an interest in research areas around the molecular markers playing a role in colorectal carcinogenesis representing prognostic and predictive factors of patient response to colorectal cancer therapies.

Professor Frédérique Peschaud, MD-PhD, is Professor of digestive surgery and oncology at Ambroise Paré hospital in Boulogne Billancourt and joint head of department at the University of Versailles Saint-Quentin in the Yvelines department. Her primary research focus is on rectal cancer. She also belongs to the SFCD's (French digestive surgery society) scientific committee, the "French group" and the AFC.

Dr Anne Rullier, MD-PhD, works in the Pathology department of the Bordeaux CHU university hospital. She is a coordinating anatomical pathologist for national colorectal pathology projects and the pathologist responsible for the French Rectal Cancer Recommendations.

About rectal cancer
Rectal cancer is the fifth most common cancer in France. Currently, more than 17,000 cases of rectal cancer are diagnosed each year in this country, and this figure is expected to rise to 45,000 new cases annually by 2020. Rectal cancer is also prevalent in Western Europe (United Kingdom, Italy, Spain, Germany), the United States and, more recently, Japan. Indeed, on these 7 major markets, 182,000 new cases of rectal cancer were diagnosed in 2010, 40,000 of them in the United States. Taking into account every stage of the illness, the 5-year survival rate for patients suffering from rectal cancer is approximately 65% (sources: Guide infection de longue durée: Cancer colorectal adénocarcinome, INCa/HAS, 2012 and DataMonitor).

About the miCRA project
In 2013, Theradiag put in place a collaborative research and development program in the field of rectal cancer with the Cancer Institute of Montpellier (ICM) called "miCRA" (circulating microRNAs in locally advanced rectal cancer). The miCRA project was one of the 110 projects to receive a start-up phase award by the French government's Worldwide Innovation Challenge, which is based on the 7 goals defined by the Innovation 2030 Commission chaired by Mrs Anne Lauvergeon. It receives financing from BpiFrance. The aim of this project is to develop a simple, reliable, fast and non-invasive theranostics solution based on a microRNA signature in patients. The test will allow the early prediction of the response prior to any chemo/radiotherapy and anticipation of metastatic recurrences in rectal cancer.

About Prestizia
Prestizia SAS is a biotechnology company founded in 2011. A wholly-owned subsidiary of Theradiag since 2012, it has developed technology and expertise in the identification of the non-coding RNAs known as microRNAs in the blood samples taken from patients. Detected using molecular biology techniques, these microRNAs are used as specific biomarkers. They can be used to identify, provide the best possible therapeutic care or monitor patients with various pathologies such as cancer, HIV, obesity or autoimmune conditions. Prestizia's ultimate goal is to develop diagnostics and in vitro theranostics kits to be marketed and distributed by its parent company Theradiag.

About Theradiag
Capitalizing on its expertise in the distribution, development and manufacturing of in vitro diagnostic tests, Theradiag innovates and develops theranostics tests (combining treatment and diagnosis) that measure the efficiency of biotherapies in the treatment of autoimmune diseases, cancer and AIDS. Theradiag notably markets the Lisa-Tracker range (CE marked), which is a comprehensive multiparameter theranostics solution for patients with autoimmune diseases treated with biotherapies. With its subsidiary Prestizia, Theradiag is developing new biomarkers based on microRNAs for the diagnosis and monitoring of HIV/AIDS and rectal cancer. Theradiag is thus participating in the development of "customized treatment", which favors the individualization of treatments, the evaluation of their efficacy and the prevention of drug resistance. The Company is based in Marne-la-Vallée, near Paris, and in Montpellier, and has over 65 employees.

Have you ever walked down the street and felt somebody’s eyes on you, and turned around to see them looking at you? This way of knowing somebody’s attention is on you is a spiritual ability. Have you ever known who was on the phone as it rang, before you picked up the receiver? This is the ability of telepathy.

We are born a spirit inhabiting a body. All of our spiritual abilities are natural, our birthright. This includes clairvoyance – the ability to see spirit, to see energy – telepathy – the ability to hear spirit to spirit communication – and clairsentience – the ability to feel energy, to feel the emotions of another. All we need to do is remember we have these abilities and recall how to access their functions.

Meditation is the pathway to open and develop your spiritual sensitivities. It is the time we go inward to explore deeper access to who we are, how we get beyond and beneath old patterns of thinking, beyond outdated beliefs. Meditation teaches us how to simply see or know something outside of our habitual thinking boundaries. Here we access deeper levels of truth.

To meditate simply sit quietly, close your eyes to help you focus inwardly. Breathe. Allow a connection from the base of your spine to the center of the planet, a grounding chord. This is your energy exit, your release of old wounding and outdated tensions. Connect your feet to nature. Imagine standing in a nourishing environment soaking up the nurturance of the place, and giving yourself a solid foundation. Now imagine the cosmic energy of pure spirit and guidance flowing into your crown. This will get you started into knowing and owning your own spiritual space.

Lets look at some examples of everyday use of spiritual abilities.

If we pay attention we will become aware of the difference between truth and lies. Our energy field wobbles around a lie. Even the body tightens usually around the stomach or abdominal area. You can practice this. Close your eyes and tell yourself a simple obvious lie and tune into your internal reaction. What tightens? Our energy field does not know how to make sense of a lie, so the lie tends to persist and draw tension around itself. It becomes hard to let go of it. On the other hand, with eyes closed, tell yourself a simple truth. This typically effortless. The body does not react, we just move on. Imprint your responses, play with them, so you can use this information in everyday interactions.

Another everyday way to access spiritual abilities is through the use of a gauge. You can close your eyes and imagine a gauge from zero to one hundred percent. You can ask the gauge any question at all. Here are some examples:

How present am I today?

How honest am I being with myself about this situation?

Perhaps if you feel a generalized anxiety you might ask the gauge ‘How old am I right now?’ The age that comes up is a clue to the origins of the event that is being currently stimulated. These are various mechanisms we can use to access our intuitive way of knowing.

Using both the ability of clairvoyance and telepathy you can imagine a spirit to spirit hello to someone you are about to meet. An example is a new potential boss who will interview you tomorrow for a job. Get to know the man or woman in advance. You may find a familiarity once you are in person together. An Olympic gymnast talked about how she visualized her routine every night before she went to bed. She won a gold medal. Perhaps you are about to go on a blind date. Imagine yourself with your perspective date and see if you feel happy, energized, annoyed, or depleted. Feel your body’s immediate reaction, your body is a truth teller. Have fun exploring these spiritual abilities, the more you use them, the more accurate and useful they become.

CHAKRAS

The chakras are the core element of the spiritual anatomy. They’re the organs of the spiritual body. They bring in light from the universe, spin and distribute this light into the body. There are seven main chakras along the spine from the first at the sacrum to the seventh at the crown. Each one has a different focus.

The second chakra is just below the belly button. It is our emotional and sexual center. It registers pleasure and pain. This chakra embodies the spiritual energy called clairsentience – the ability to know the emotions of another person. Sometimes without realizing it, in sympathy, we absorb the emotions of another. Perhaps we were having a fine day but then after encountering a friend who is experiencing anxiety, we walk away totally filled with anxiety. In this instance we have automatically matched and absorbed the energy of our friend. We can become conscious of this spiritual ability to minimize matching this energy. We can ask ourselves was my second chakra too open and vulnerable when encountering this friend? We can close it half way down and use the grounding cord. This will enable us to come out of matching our friend’s emotional state and release what has been absorbed. In this way we will still be able to see our friend without losing our own identity and space.

The third chakra is located in our diaphragm area. This chakra is the center of our will and personal power. One way to access it is to sit quietly and take a look at a situation where you feel victimized and powerless. See if you can find any way to change that belief. Perhaps you were part of creating that situation. This would enable you to view yourself as having choice Examine more closely the choices you made that led to the events Release defensiveness and replay the situation with new choices, find your power to align your choices to your goals This will help you find the ability to change the situation and once again view yourself as powerful.

The fourth chakra is your heart center. Its foundation is self-love, love of others, compassion and forgiveness. Look at that gauge again. What percent does it say you love yourself? Move it up five percent and sit feeding yourself the energy ‘I love myself’ over and over. This helps you align the love you know as a spirit with the physical body and the thinking mind.

In an analysis of data on more than 100,000 deliveries and term newborns from New York City hospitals, rates for certain quality indicators and complications for mothers and newborns varied substantially between hospitals and were not correlated with performance measures designed to assess hospital-level obstetric quality of care, according to a study in the October 15 issue of JAMA.

Severe maternal complications occurs in about 60,000 women (1.6 per 100 deliveries) annually in the United States, and 1 in 10 term infants experience neonatal complications. In an effort to improve the quality of care, several obstetric-specific quality measures are now monitored and publicly reported. The extent to which these measures are associated with maternal and neonatal complications has not been known, according to background information in the article.

Elizabeth A. Howell, M.D., M.P.P., of the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, and colleagues used New York City discharge and birth certificate data sets from 2010 to determine whether two Joint Commission obstetric quality indicators (elective, nonmedically indicated deliveries performed at 37 weeks or more of gestation and prior to 39 weeks and cesarean deliveries performed in low-risk women) were associated with severe maternal or neonatal complications. Published algorithms were used to identify severe maternal complications (delivery associated with a life-threatening complication or performance of a lifesaving procedure) and complications in term newborns without birth defects (births associated with complications such as birth trauma, hypoxia [a lower-than-normal concentration of oxygen in arterial blood], and prolonged length of stay).

Severe maternal complications occurred among 2,372 of 115,742 deliveries (2.4 percent), and neonatal complications occurred among 8,057 of 103,416 term newborns without birth defects (7.8 percent). Rates for elective deliveries performed before 39 weeks of gestation ranged from 15.5 to 41.9 per 100 deliveries among 41 hospitals. There were 11.7 to 39.3 cesarean deliveries per 100 deliveries performed in low-risk mothers. Severe maternal complication rates varied 4- to 5-fold between hospitals, and there was a 7-fold variation in neonatal complications at term between hospitals.

The maternal quality indicators of elective delivery before 39 weeks of gestation and cesarean delivery performed in low-risk mothers were not associated with severe maternal or neonatal complications.

“Current quality indicators may not be sufficiently comprehensive for guiding quality improvement in obstetric care,” the authors conclude.
(doi:10.1001/jama.2014.13381)